Instant Pot Apple Butter (Naturally Sweetened)

Key Ingredients

Old-fashioned apple butter contains a LOT of sugar. I've pared it down to a handful of ingredients and added just a touch of maple syrup for a natural sweetener. That maple flavor not only sweetens the already sweet apples, but adds SO much flavor!

Here's what you need:

• Apples: Use your favorite unwaxed apple variety. Braeburn, Gala, Rome, and Golden Delicious are good choices. Because this homemade apple butter is naturally sweetened, I like to avoid tart apples like Granny Smith.
• Maple Syrup: This refined sugar-free ingredient pairs so incredibly well with apples that I couldn't resist adding a splash to the apple butter!
• Spices: Ground cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla are heavenly with baked apples!

How to Make Homemade Apple Butter

The full step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below, but here is a quick overview of this easy apple butter recipe in the Instant Pot! Stovetop instructions are also in the recipe card below.

1. Step 1: Core and chop the apples, then add them to the pressure cooker along with maple syrup, water, cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves. Toss together and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Naturally release for 10 minutes, then quickly release remaining pressure and turn the Instant Pot off.

2. Step 2: You now have applesauce. Puree the applesauce with an immersion blender. This is my favorite method because it's done right in the insert. You can also let it cool slightly, puree it with a blender, and then return it to the insert.

3. Step 3: Use the Sauté function and cook the applesauce for about 1 hour, stirring frequently with a heat-safe spoon until it becomes smooth and reaches the desired thickness. It will be hot and bubbly as it cooks, so I use a splatter screen on top. You could also place a lid slightly ajar as it cooks.

Applesauce vs. Apple Butter

As you now know, this recipe begins as homemade applesauce before evolving into apple butter. This means it can serve a dual function-two dishes in one recipe!

Naturally sweetened applesauce is merely a stop on the journey to butter.

The process of making applesauce versus apple butter is determined by the cooking time. The initial cooking process breaks down the apples and creates a sauce. Once they are pureed, the cooking process evaporates the liquid, caramelizes the natural sugars, and results in apple butter.

The right consistency of butter? That's up to you. I like a looser butter that's easy to spread or add into recipes, but you can continue cooking it until it's thick enough to stand up!

Do you have to peel the apples?

I don't, but I do use unwaxed apples. Peeling apples isn't my favorite thing, which is why one of my favorite fall tools is an apple peeler!

But I also like to leave the skin on because it adds healthy dietary fiber, and many nutrients are concentrated in the apple peel. Plus, because the peels contain pectin, it helps the apple butter thicken!

How to Use Apple Butter

For me, nothing is more delicious than apple butter smeared onto a homemade slice of whole wheat bread, toasted in the morning. But it's also great with:

• Swirled into yogurt
• Spread over waffles
• Swirled into Easy Apple Pie Smoothie
• As a fruit dip for healthy snacking

How to Store Apple Butter

This apple butter will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 months. The maple syrup will help preserve it, as it is made with natural sugar. However, I think the flavor is best when used within two weeks.

Apple butter also freezes exceptionally well and will keep in an airtight container for 3 to 6 months. I like to portion it into small containers, leaving headspace in the container for expansion in the freezer.